'Justice Will Be Done'

Published: Saturday, September 22, 2001

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. Bush delivered a masterful speech to Congress and the American people Thursday that set a strong tone for the conflict that is to come and that put other nations of the world on notice that they are either on our side or on the side of terrorists.

It was an exceptionally powerful speech, demanding that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan deliver terrorists and their leaders, give the United States full access to terrorist training camps and release unjustly imprisoned foreign nationals.

"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion," he said. "The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate."

He put them on notice with demands that he knows fanatics will never fulfill. But he gave them fair warning of what is to come  something that America did not have before Sept. 11.

Tough actions must follow tough words

Mr. Bush did not specify, nor did he need to, the fate that would be shared. He did not say the words "dead or alive" but effectively did by saying, "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done."

The president was absolutely correct when he said that the Taliban is committing murder by sponsoring, sheltering and supplying terrorists. It must stop. Terrorists must have no safe haven in any corner of the world.

While the Bush administration has earned high marks for talking tough, we note that a big difference exists between tough words and tough actions.

However, we anticipate the actions to follow. We believe that the president will back up his tough words with the tough actions that are necessary to win the war against terrorism, and we support his administration fully as it sets out in that war.

But so must the American people, and so must the other nations of the world. The Bush administration, led by Secretary of State Colin Powell, has done an excellent job of seeking support from other nations of the world. They must stand with us and be with us for the long haul.

Words were what America needed to hear

Mr. Bush clearly noted that we have a lengthy campaign ahead of us, and Americans must be ready to face times that will be very difficult for our nation.

He told America's armed forces that they will make us proud when America acts, and we look forward to that pride.

We urge all Americans to support him throughout the long struggle ahead. We agree with him that the outcome is certain, but we have difficult moments ahead before we reach it.

The decision to appoint Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to direct the Office of Homeland Security was a good one. Our enemies will try to strike again, and we must be ready.

Perhaps at no time since Dec. 8, 1941, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt made his famous "day of infamy" speech, has an American president had an audience that was more receptive to what he would say. And his words were exactly what America needed to hear.

If his speech had been an at-bat in a baseball game, it would have been a home run. A grand slam, in fact.

Mr. Bush and his team of America are ahead in the game, but the ninth inning is coming up. Now we must do what we need to do to win the game. Let us be united.